TNT Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes during Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—TNT coach Chot Reyes took no positives in the Tropang Giga’s Game 5 loss in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the hands of Ginebra.
Arguing with his big man Poy Erram is just one of the things that earned the ire of Reyes in the 73-66 loss of TNT that brought them to a 3-2 hole in the best-of-seven series.
At this point, their masterclass on the defensive end just wasn’t enough.
READ: PBA Finals: ‘Fed up’ Chot Reyes tells off Poy Erram for his antics
“Basketball is about scoring points and we couldn’t do it. We’re keeping them down to 75 points and we’re still losing games. We have no business winning if we can’t score more than 75 points, we have no business winning,” said the veteran tactician at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
“There’s nothing positive about a loss. It’s all negative. We just need to regroup. This is not over. They need four wins to win the championship but that’s a tough team.”
Usually on the winning in defensive-centric games, the Tropang Giga found themselves on the opposite end against the Gin Kings in low-scoring clashes.
Sunday was no isolated case.
In Game 2, both squads were also limited to scoring under 75 points. The Gin Kings evened the series in that matchup at Mall of Asia Arena, 71-70.
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TNT was, as usual, on point with their defense in Game 5 but its offensive woes rolled up into one huge problematic ball.
The Tropang Giga as a squad registered a lowly 32.9 percent field goal shooting clip, sinking just seven triples in the process.
“We can’t make the mistakes we’re making against the national team. We’re playing Gilas’ first five so it’s tough. We have very small room for error and that’s what’s been happening,” said Reyes.
TNT shoots for a do-or-die rubber match in Game 6 of the series on Wednesday, still inside the Big Dome.